Release date: 24th February 2010
The way in which English qualifications are structured has been changed, in an effort to make them easier to understand, enable meaningful comparisons between qualifications and avoid duplication of learning.
The new system, known as the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) awards credits for specific units of assessment and these units can be combined to form a qualification.
One of the benefits of the new QCF system is that the same units can be used as building blocks within different qualifications, thereby avoiding the need for learners to have to repeat training they have already completed when they are studying for a new qualification.
Only organisations approved by a qualifications regulator, (Ofqual in England, CCEA in Northern Ireland and DCELLS in Wales) are permitted to submit units of assessment for inclusion in the new framework. This approval has been granted to Skills for Security following a rigorous and lengthy process, designed to ensure that the skills body has the necessary capability and capacity to develop the units, and that it meets all of the regulatory requirements.
Mike Burke, Director of Research and Development at Skills for Security comments; "This was an extremely important achievement for Skills for Security and we can now ensure that the private security sector's skills and qualifications will be clearly represented on this new framework, in order to continue to improve career development and professionalism within the industry."
